COMMISSION FOR Greenwich Hospital WILLIAM the Third By the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To Our Dearly Beloved Brother-in-Law Prince George Hereditary of Denmark The most Reverend Father in God Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Primate and Metropolitan of all England and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for the time being Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Councellor Sir John Sommers Knight Keeper of Our Great Seal of England and Our Chancellor of England Keéper and Commissioners of Our Great Seal for the time being Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin and Councellor Thomas Duke of Leeds President of Our Privy Council and the President of Our Privy Council for the time being Our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin and Councellor Thomas Earl of Pembrook and Montgomery Keeper of Our Privy Seal and the Keéper of Our Privy Seal for the time being Our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousins and Councellors Henry Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal of England William Duke of Devonshire Steward of Our Houshold Charles Duke of Bolton Charles Duke of Shrewsbury one of Our Principal Secretaries of State and William Duke of Bedford Our Right Trusty and Entirely Beloved Counsins and Councellors John Marquiss of Normanby and Charles Pawlett Esquire commonly called Marquiss of Winchester Our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Counsins and Councellors Robert Earl of Lindsey Great Chamberlain of England Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex Chamberlain of Our Houshold Aubrey Earl of Oxford John Earl of Bridgewater Thomas Earl of Stamford John Earl of Bath Daniel Earl of Nottingham Lawrence Earl of Rochester William Earl of Portland Thomas Earl of Fauconberg Charles Earl of Monmouth Ralph Earl of Mountague Richard Earl of Scarborough Francis Earl of Bradford Henry Earl of Romney Master of Our Ordnance and the Master of Our Ordnance for the time being Richard Earl of Ranelagh in Our Kingdom of Ireland Paymaster of Our Forces Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Cousin and Councellor Charles Lord Dursley commonly called Viscount Dursley Son and Heir Apparent of Our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin George Earl of Berkley The Right Reverend Father in God Henry Bishop of London and the Bishop of that Seé for the time being Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Councellors Robert Lord Lexington Charles Lord Cornwallis Sidney Lord Godolphin First Commissioner of Our Treasury Henry Lord Capell Thomas Lord Coningsby in Our Kingdom of Ireland Charles Montague Esquire one of the Commissioners of Our Treasury Chancellor and Vnder-Treasurer of Our Exthequer and the Chancellor and Vnder-Treasurer of Our Exchequer for the time being Sir John Trevor Knight Speaker of Our House of Commons and Master of Our Rolls and the Master of Our Rolls for the time being Sir Robert Howard Knight Auditor of the Receipt of Our Exchequer Thomas Wharton Esquire Comptroller of Our Houshold Sir John Trenchard Knight Our Principal Secretary of State and Our Principal Secretary of State for the time being Sir John Holt Kinght Chief Justice Assigned to hold Pleas before Vs and the Chief Iustice to be Assigned to hold Pleas before Vs for the time being Sir John Louther Baronet Sir Henry Goodrick Knight and Baronet Lieutenant General of Our Ordnance Edward Russell Esquire First Commissioner of Our Admiralty Treasurer of Our Navy and Admiral of Our Navy Royal Richard Hampden and Hugh Buscowen Esquires Our Trusty and Welbeloved Sir Stephen Fox Knight one other of the Commissioners of Our Treasury Sir William Trumball Knight one other of the Commissioners of Our Treasury John Smith Esquire one other of the Commissioners of Our Treasury and the Treasurer of England Treasurer of Our Exchequer and Commissioners of Our Treasury for the time being Sir John Louther of Whithaven Baronet Henry Priestman Esquire Robert Austin Esquire Sir Robert Rich Knight and Baronet Sir George Rook and Sir John Houblon Knights which Six last named are also Commissioners of Our Admiralty and the High Admiral of England or the Commissioners for Executing the Office of High Admiral of England for the time being Our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousins William Earl of Craven Charles Bodvile Earl of Radnor George Earl of Berkley and Arthur Earl of Torrington Our Trusty and Welbeloved Sir William Gregory Knight Sir Gyles Eyre Knight and Sir Samuel Eyre Knight Iustices Assigned to hold Pleas before Vs and the Iustices to be Assigned to hold Pleas before Vs for the time being Sir George Treby Knight Chief Iustice of Our Court of Common Pleas Sir Edward Nevill Knight Sir Thomas Rokeby Knight and Sir John Powell Knight Iustices of Our Court of Common Pleas and the Chief Iustice and Iustices of the same Court for the time being Sir Nicholas Letchmore Knight Sir John Turton Knight Sir John Powell Knight Batons and George Bradbury Cursitor Baron of Our Court of Exchequer and the Chief Baron Barons of the Coife and Cursitor Baron of Our Court of Exchequer for the time being The most Reverend Father in God John Arch-Bishop of York Primate and Metropolitan of England and the Arch-Bishop of York for the time being The Right Reverend Father in God Nathaniel Bishop of Duresme Peter Bishop of Winchester William Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry William Bishop of Landaffe Edward Bishop of St. Asaph Thomas Bishop of Rochester Thomas Bishop of Carlisle Jonathan Bishop of Exon Thomas Bishop of St. Davids Gilbert Bishop of Sarum Humphrey Bishop of Bangor Edward Bishop of Worcester Symon Bishop of Ely Gilbert Bishop of Hereford Nicholas Bishop of Chester John Bishop of Oxford John Bishop of Norwich Richard Bishop of Peterborough Edward Bishop of Gloucester Robert Bishop of Chichester Richard Bishop of Bath and Wells John Bishop of Bristol and James Bishop of Lincoln and the several Bishops of the same Seés for the time being Our Trusty and Welbeloved Sir Edward Ward Knight Our Attorny General Sir Thomas Trevor Knight Our Solicitor General Samuel Travers Esquire Surveyor General of Our Lands Sir Christopher Wrenn Knight Surveyor General of Our Works Our Trusty and Welbeloved Sir Thomas Lane Knight Mayor of Our City of London and the Mayor of the same City for the time being Sir Robert Clayton Sir Patience Ward Sir John Moor Sir William Pritchard Sir Robert Jeffery Sir Thomas Stamp Sir John Fleet Sir William Ashhurst Sir Jonathan Raymond Sir Peter Daniel Sir Samuel Dashwood Sir Thomas Kinsey Sir John Parsons Sir Edward Clark Sir Humphrey Edwin Sir Francis Child Sir Richard Levett Sir William Gore Sir Thomas Cooke Sir James Houblon Sir Thomas Abney Sir William Hedges Knights Thomas Darwin and Joseph Smart Esquires Aldermen of Our City of London and all and every the Aldermen of the same City for the time being Our Trusty and Welbeloved Edmond Bowyer of Camberwell Esquire Michael Godfrey Esquire Sir Leonard Robinson Knight Chamberlain of London Sir John Morden Sir John Banks Sir Josiah Child Sir Peter Vandeput Sir William Russell Sir
Jeremy Sambrook Sir Gabriel Roberts Sir John Foche Sir Henry Furnes Sir William Scawen Sir Joseph Herne Knights Sir Richard Onslow Baronet John Lock Gilbert Heathcott and Arthur Shallott Esquires Our Trusty and Welbeloved Sir Richard Haddock Sir Cloudsley Shovell Knights Edmund Dummer Charles Sergison Samuel Pett Thomas Wilshaw Dennis Liddall Benjamin Tinewell Esquires Principal Officers of Our Navy and the Principal Officers in the nature of Commissioners of Our Navy for the time being and Our Trusty and Welbeloved Sir Charles Hedges Knight Iudge of Our Supreme Court of Admiralty Henry Guy Esquire Thomas Papillon Esquire Thomas Western Esquire Charles Duncomb Esquire Peter Houblon Esquire Edmund Bolter Esquire Thomas Firmin and William Lowndes Gent. Our Trusty and Welbeloved John Hill EsQ Master and Assistant of Trinity House of Deptford Strond Captain Samuel Rutter Captain John Bowers Captain John Conaway Captain Roger Paxton Captain John Benbow Sir Matthew Andrews Captain John Nicholls Captain Ralph Sanderson Robert Lord Lucas Sir Henry Sheer Knight James Southern Esquire Captain Robert Fisher Captain George Phenny Captain Samuel Atkinson Captain Henry Greenhill Captain Henry Risby Captain Balthazar St. Mitchell Captain Humphrey Ayles Captain John Jacob Captain William Cruft Captain William Gutteridge Captain John Hazelwood and the Master and all and every the Wardens Assistants and Elder Brethren of Trinity House of Deptford Strond for the time being Greéting Whereas We are extreamly desirous that the Trade Navigation and Naval Strength of this Our Realm of England whereupon the Safety and Flourishing State thereof does so much depend should by all Proper Means be Promoted and Advanced And whereas We are perswaded that nothing will more effectually Contribute thereto then the Endeavouring by due and fitting Encouragements to encrease the Number of English Seamen as well for the Strengthning of Our Navy Royal and better Performing the Naval Services of Vs Our Heirs and Successors as for the Supplying and Carrying on the Occasions and Business of Our Merchants and other Our Loving Subjects Interested in Trade Commerce Fishing Plantation Discovery and other Affairs relating to Navigation And whereas the Sea-fairing Men of this Kingdom have for a long time Distinguished themselves throughout the World by their Industry and Skilfulness in their proper Employments and by their Courage and Constancy manifested in Engagements and Hazards for the Defence and Honour of their Native Countrey and nothing is more likely to continue this their Ancient Reputation and to invite greater Numbers of Our Subjects to betake themselves to the Sea than the making some Competent Provision That Seamen who by Age Wounds or other Accidents shall become Disabled for further Service at Sea and shall not be in a Condition to maintain themselves Comfortably may not fall under Hardships and Miseries but may be Supported at the Publick Charge And that the Children of such Disabled Seamen and also the Widows and Children of such Seamen as shall happen to be Slain in Sea-Service may in some Reasonable Manner be Provided for and Educated And whereas having frequently Reflected upon the Premisses since Our Accession to the Crown We have Determined with Our Selves to Erect and Establish a Hospital for the Purposes aforesaid And although by reason of the Expensive War in which We have been and are at present Engaged We have not been able to Carry on the said Good and Pious Purposes to such Effect as We have desired Yet in order to begin to put the same in Execution We and Our late most Dear Consort the Queén did by Our Letters Patents under Our Great Seal of England bearing Date the Twenty fifth of October last past Give and Grant unto you the said Sir John Sommers Thomas Duke of Leeds Thomas Earl of Pembrook and Montgomery Charles Duke of Shrewsbury Sidney Lord Godolphin Sir John Trenchard Edward Russell Sir Stephen Fox Sir John Louther of Whithaven Sir William Ashhurst Sir Robert Clayton Sir Patience Ward Sir John Moor and Sir William Pritchard and to your Heirs and Assigns for ever all that Piece or Parcel of Ground Scituate Lying and Being within the Parish of East-Greenwich in Our County of Kent and being Parcel or reputed Parcel of Our Manor of East-Greenwich aforesaid containing in the whole by Admeasurement Eight Acres Two Roods and Thirty two Square Perches be the same more or less as the said Ground is now Marked Staked or otherwise Set out in which Admeasurement the Ground is Signed for a Way or Passage to lead through the Premisses and therein mentioned to be excepted is comprehended and reckoned which said Piece or Parcel of Ground is Butted and Bounded as in the said Letters Patents is expressed And all that Capital Messuage lately built or in building by Our Royal Vncle King Charles the Second and still remaining unfinished commonly called by the Name of Our Pallace at Greenwich standing upon the Piece or Parcel of Ground aforesaid and several other Edifices and Buildings and other things in the said Letters Patents mentioned except as therein is excepted To the intent nevertheless that the aforesaid Premisses and every part thereof shall be Converted and Employed unto and for the Vse and Service of Our Hospital for the Relief of Seamen their Widows and Children and Encouragement of Navigation in such manner as is therein expressed and as by the Letters Patents aforesaid relation being thereunto had may more fully appear And as We are fully Satisfied that the Execting of such an Hospital as aforesaid will be of Great Benefit and Advantage to this Our Kingdom so also taking into Our Royal Consideration that the Constituting and Establishing a Foundation of that Nature and the Framing of Rules and Statutes for the Government thereof in such a Manner as may best Answer what is thereby Intended and Designed is a Matter of Great Difficulty and such as does require Mature Deliveration and Advice know ye therefore that We Reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your known Discretions Abilities and Integrities Have Nominated Authorized and Constituted and do by these Presents Nominate Authorize and Appoint you the said Prince George Hereditary of Denmark Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for the time being Sir John Sommers and Our Chancellor of England Keeper and Commissioners of Our Great Seal for the time being Thomas Duke of Leeds and the President of Our Privy Council for the time being Thomas Earl of Pembrook and Montgomery and the Keeper of Our Privy Seal for the time being Henry Duke of Norfolk William Duke of Devonshire Charles Duke of Bolton Charles Duke of Shrewsbury and William Duke of Bedford John Marquiss of Normanby and Charles Pawlett Esquire commonly called Marquiss of Winchester Robert Earl of Lindsey Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex Aubrey Earl of Oxford John Earl of Bridgewater Thomas Earl of Stamford John Earl of Bath Daniel Earl of Nottingham Lawrence Earl of Rochester William Earl of Portland Thomas Earl of Fauconberg Charles Earl of Monmouth Ralph Earl of Montague Richard Earl of Scarborough Francis Earl of Bradford Henry Earl of Romney and the Master of Our Ordnance for the time being Richard Earl of Ranelagh Charles Lord Dursley
commonly called Viscount Dursley Henry Bishop of London and the Bishop of that Seé for the time being Robert Lord Lexington Charles Lord Cornwallis Sidney Lord Godolphin Henry Lord Capell Thomas Lord Coningsby Charles Montague and the Chancellor and Vnder-Treasurer of Our Exchequer for the time being Sir John Trevor and the Master of Our Rolls for the time being Sir Robert Howard Thomas Wharton Sir John Trenchard and Our Principal Secretaries of State for the time being Sir John Holt and the Chief Iustice to be Assigned to hold Pleas before Vs for the time being Sir John Louther of Louther Sir Henry Goodrick Edward Russell Richard Hampden Hugh Buscowen Sir Stephen Fox Sir William Trumball John Smith and the Treasurer of England Treasurer of Our Exchequer and Commissioners of Our Treasury for the time being Sir John Louther of Whithaven Henry Priestman Robert Austin Sir Robert Rich Sir George Rook Sir John Houblon and the High Admiral of England or the Commissioners for Executing the Office of High Admiral of England for the time being William Earl of Craven Charles Bodvile Earl of Radnor George Earl of Berkley and Arthur Earl of Torrington Sir William Gregory Sir Gyles Eyre and Samuel Eyre and the Iustices to be Assigned to hold Pleas before Vs for the time being Sir George Treby Sir Edward Nevill Sir Thomas Rokeby and Sir John Powell and the Chief Iustice and Iustices of the Court of Common Pleas for the time being Sir Nicholas Lechmere Sir John Turton Sir John Powell and George Bradbury and the Chief Baron Barons of the Coife and Cursitor Baron of Our Court of Exchequer for the time being John Arch-Bishop of York and the Arch-Bishop of York for the time being Nathaniel Bishop of Duresme Peter Bishop of Winchester William Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry William Bishop of Landaffe Edward Bishop of St. Asaph Thomas Bishop of Rochester Thomas Bishop of Carlisle Jonathan Bishop of Exon Thomas Bishop of St. Davids Gilbert Bishop of Sarum Humphrey Bishop of Bangor Edward Bishop of Worcester Symon Bishop of Ely Gilbert Bishop of Hereford Nicholas Bishop of Chester John Bishop of Oxford John Bishop of Norwich Richard Bishop of Peterborough Edward Bishop of Gloucester Robert Bishop of Chichester Richard Bishop of Bath and Wells John Bishop of Bristol and James Bishop of Lincoln and the several Bishops of the same Seés for the time being Sir Edward Ward Sir Thomas Trevor Samuel Travers Sir Christopher Wrenn Sir Thomas Lane and the Mayor of Our City of London for the time being Sir Robert Clayton Sir Patience Ward Sir John Moor Sir William Pritchard Sir Robert Jeffery Sir Thomas Stamp Sir John Fleet Sir William Ashhurst Sir Jonathan Raymond Sir Peter Daniel Sir Samuel Dashwood Sir Thomas Kinsey Sir John Parsons Sir Edward Clark Sir Humphrey Edwin Sir Francis Child Sir Richard Levett Sir William Gore Sir Thomas Cooke Sir James Houblon Sir Thomas Abney Sir William Hedges Thomas Darwin and Joseph Smart and all and every the Aldermen of the same City for the time being Edmund Bowyer Michael Godfrey Sir Leonard Robinson Sir John Morden Sir John Banks Sir Josiah Child Sir Peter Vandeput Sir William Russell Sir Jeremy Sambrook Sir Gabriel Roberts Sir John Foche Sir Henry Furnes Sir William Scawen Sir Joseph Horne Sir Richard Onslow Baronet John Lock Gilbert Heathcott and Arthur Shallott Esquires Sir Richard Haddock Sir Cloudsley Shovell Edmund Dummer Charles Sergison Samuel Pett Thomas Wilshaw Dennis Liddall Benjamin Tinewell and the Principall Officers in the nature of Commissioners of Our Navy for the time being Sir Charles Hedges Henry Guy Thomas Papillon Thomas Western Charles Duncomb Peter Houblon Edmund Bolter Thomas Firmin and William Lowndes John Hill Captain Samuel Rutter Captain John Bowyers Captain John Conaway Captain Roger Paxton Captain John Benbow Sir Matthew Andrews Captain John Nicholls Captain Ralph Sanderson Robert Lord Lucas Sir Henry Shere James Southern Captain Robert Fisher Captain George Phenney Captain Samuel Atkinson Captain Henry Greenhill Captain Henry Risby Captain Balthazar St. Mitchell Captain Humphrey Ayles Captain John Jacob Captain William Cruft Captain William Gutteridge Captain John Hazelwood and the Master and all and every the Wardens Assistants and Elder Brethren of Trinity House of Deptford Strond for the time being to be Our Commissioners for the Purposes herein after mentioned And to the end that Our Royal Purpose and Intention herein may the better take Effect Our Will and Pleasure is and We do hereby Order Direct and Appoint That you do from time to time Meét together at some Convenient Place for the Execution of this Our Commission and that at your first or some other Subsequent Meéting or Meétings so many of you as shall be then present of whom any one or more of you being of Our Privy Council and any one or more of you the Commissioners of Our Treasury and any one or more of you the Commissioners for Executing the Office of Our High Admiral of England for the time being to be Threé at the least do consider of such Proper and Fit Methods as you shall judge most Expedient to be Observed in Executing the same And We do also by these Presents Authorize and Impower you Our said Commissioners or any Seven or more of you of whom any one or more of you Our Privy Councellors and any one or more of you the Commissioners of Our Treasury and any one or more of you the Commissioners for Executing the Office of Our High Admiral of England for the time being to be Threé at the least to call to your Aid and Assistance such Persons as you shall think fit to Assist and Advise you in the Due and Effectual Execution of this Our Commission and out of your own Number as often as you shall judge it Expedient to Appoint and Constitute such and so many Sub-Committeés for the better Managing and Carrying on Our said Purpose and Intention in this Our Commission and to Invest them with such Powers as you shall think fit to intrust them with pursuant to the Powers hereby given to your selves and to Revoke or make Void the same and Revive and make a New the said Sub-Committeés so often as you shall think neédful as aforesaid And We do by these presents Authorize and Require you our said Commissioners or any Seven or more of you of whom any one or more of you Our Privy Councellors and any one or more of you the Commissioners of Our Treasury and any one or more of you the Commissioners for Executing the Office of Our High Admiral of England for the time being to be Threé at the least calling to your Assistance Our Surveyor General of Our Works and also such other Artists and Persons as you shall think fit to consider what part